Every Tiffany window began as a watercolor, and nearly 120 of them are here — some for works long since lost, damaged or never built at all. The Met hangs the drawings beside surviving windows, mosaics and lamps so you can walk the distance from idea to glass in a single glance. If you have only ever seen Tiffany as a lampshade, this is the show that turns it back into a drawing studio full of emigres and women artists.
What to expect
Rooms alternate between wall-hung watercolors and the glass objects they specify, lit so the stained glass glows against the paper. Labels track which commissions survive and which are gone. The show also foregrounds the decades-long conservation effort that made the fragile drawings displayable, so expect some technical detail on paper restoration.
Good to know
- Take the 4/5/6 to 86th Street, then walk to the Fifth Avenue entrance.
- Works on paper are lit low for conservation — give your eyes a minute when you walk in.
- Pair it with the American Wing upstairs, which holds more Tiffany glass in context.
- New York State residents and NY/NJ/CT students can pay what they wish.
- Step-free access throughout; the drawings hang at a comfortable standing height.
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Common questions
How many drawings are on view?
Nearly 120 watercolor design drawings, all from The Met's own collection.
Are finished Tiffany works shown too?
Yes — stained-glass windows, mosaics, enamelwork and iconic lamps are displayed alongside their original designs.
Who actually made the drawings?
Designers in Tiffany's studios, many of them emigres and women, working collaboratively to realize his vision.
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